How Does Weed Membrane Work?

How does weed membrane work? If you’ve heard of weed membrane but you’re not sure how it works or how to use it effectively, you’re certainly not alone. Weed membrane can be very useful for keeping weeds down, but it can also affect plants that you want to encourage and grow if you don’t use it correctly.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at exactly how weed membrane works, how it can prevent weeds while allowing other plants to thrive, and how to install and use it correctly…

Article Contents

• What is Weed Membrane?
• How Does Weed Membrane Work?
• How to Plant With a Weed Membrane?
• Benefits of Weed Membrane
• Drawbacks of Weed Membrane
• Discover High-Quality Weed Membrane

What Is a Weed Membrane?

A weed membrane is a fabric sheet or cover that is laid in the garden to prevent the growth of weeds and other unwanted plants. It may also be called garden control fabric or weed control fabric.

It can be made of different types of material and can come in different colours, but all weed membranes should provide a permeable barrier that is able to block sunlight while letting water and sunlight through to the soil beneath.

Laying a weed membrane in your garden is easier than manual weeding and more eco-friendly than using chemical herbicide or weed killers. It is effective and relatively cheap – after the initial outlay, it should last for years.

Prices can vary considerably, but you may expect to pay around £1 per square metre for smaller quantities of good-quality, heavy-duty weed membrane. The price per square metre will usually fall when you buy larger quantities.

How Does Weed Membrane Work?

Weed membrane is generally used between soil and a top layer of materials. This could be decorative materials such as pebbles or gravel, but it can also be placed in the soil itself, with holes cut to allow plants that you want to grow to emerge and thrive. It can also be placed under decking, which can prevent unsightly and potentially damaging weeds from growing between the gaps of the decking boards.

Weed membrane works primarily by blocking the sunlight needed by all plants, preventing the growth of weeds and other unwanted plants. It also provides a physical barrier between the soil and air so that weed and wind-dispersed seeds cannot germinate.

At the same time, weed membrane is permeable. This means that it lets water and vital nutrients through to keep the soil healthy. This prevents waterlogging and allows plants that you do want to thrive.

Most weed membranes, including Dino Decking’s heavy-duty, UV-stabilised fabric, are designed to withstand harsh external environments, ensuring durability and reliability.

How to Plant With a Weed Membrane

Sometimes you may want to plant in an area already covered by a weed membrane. Here’s how to do it…

Step 1: Clear the area

If the weed membrane is already covered by gravel, mulch or other materials, clear it back to expose the surface of the membrane.

Step 2: Cut the membrane

Cut a cross in the weed membrane using a garden knife or other suitable tool.

Step 3: Prepare for planting

Pull the flaps of the membrane away from the soil beneath and secure them out of the way with stones or other weights. Dig a hole in the exposed soil that is wide and deep enough for the plant.

Step 4: Plant

Place the plant in the hole and start to replace the soil. Add compost and fertiliser if required. Gently firm it down and water.

Step 5 Replace and re-cover

Remove the weights and fold the flaps of the weed membrane back around the plant stem. Gently replace the surrounding gravel, mulch, soil or other surface material.

The Benefits of Weed Membrane

So, does weed membrane work? If installed and used correctly, it can certainly be very effective at keeping weeds down while allowing water and nutrients into the soil.

Here are some of the benefits of using weed membrane:

• Weed membrane can be very effective in keeping your garden weed-free.
• It is low maintenance once installed and there will be less need for manual weeding.
• It can prevent weed growth under decking, which can be unsightly and potentially damaging to the decking and substructure.
• It is permeable, meaning that water, air and nutrients can get to the soil, promoting soil health.
• The permeable nature also helps prevent standing water.
• Gaps can be left to allow you to grow plants you want to keep.
• Weed membrane is quick and easy to install.
• It can be easily cut to fit your desired areas.
• Weed membrane is long-lasting and durable and should last for years or even decades.
• It is more eco-friendly than using herbicides, some of which can be harmful to wildlife and pets.

The Drawbacks of Weed Membrane

Here are some issues you might want to consider if you are thinking of buying and installing weed membrane:

• If weeds do get through, it can be more difficult to remove them as they can become tangled in the membrane itself.
• Organic matter can collect on the top surface, allowing weeds with shallow roots to establish themselves. Organic matter such as fallen leaves should be removed every so often.
• They can prevent plants other than weeds from growing. You may need to cut holes, as detailed above, if you want to grow plants in an area with weed membrane installed.
• Weed membranes may need to be replaced over time to ensure effectiveness.
• They can restrict the movement of creatures such as earthworms, which are good for the soil.

Make Your Garden Weed-Free Today

Why not explore Dino Decking’s full range of composite decking and accessories, including our weed membrane? Our weed membrane is made from heavy-duty and UV-stabilised woven fabric, making it extremely durable and long-lasting. It’s more eco-friendly than chemical weed killers, and the permeable design allows air and water to pass through to promote soil health.

Dino Decking’s weed membrane can help keep your garden weed-free without the back-breaking hassle of manual weeding. It can also prevent unsightly and potentially damaging weeds from growing through and underneath decking.